Walk into any gym and you'll see people using fancy machines, expensive equipment, and the latest fitness gadgets. Yet one of the best tests of strength and fitness requires no equipment at all. All you need is a little floor space and your own body weight. I'm talking about the humble push-up. Push-ups have been around for generations because they work. They build upper-body strength, improve core stability, challenge muscular endurance, and provide a simple way to measure your fitness level. Best of all, they can be modified for almost any age or ability level. For adults over 50, push-ups are more than just an exercise. They're a practical measure of functional strength—the kind of strength that helps you carry groceries, push open heavy doors, lift grandchildren, and maintain independence as you age.
A Tactical Approach
to the Future
A Tactical Approach
to the Future
A lighthouse serves one simple but profound purpose: To guide sailors safely through uncertainty. It warns of dangers, provides orientation, and offers a single point of focus to navigate through storms or darkness. The conditions may change, but the lighthouse never does.
In 2012, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos shared this insight about building for the future:
"I very frequently get the question: 'What’s going to change in the next 10 years?' And that is a very interesting question; it’s a very common one. I almost never get the question: 'What’s not going to change in the next 10 years?' And I submit to you that that second question is actually the more important of the two."
The lesson: It's easy to focus on what will change, but in a world where it's unlikely you will be correct, it's more important to focus on what will stay the same.
Focus on the lighthouse.Here are a few timeless human truths that will not change in the future:
Humans will want real, personal connection
Humans will want to consume things that make them feel good
Humans will be seeking meaning, purpose, and clarity
Humans will pay for things that reduce friction
Humans will seek out status and improved social positioning
Humans will be insecure
These truths are the lighthouse. Further, there are timeless skills—those that are likely to remain valuable and relevant across a wide array of future states.
I call these Lighthouse Skills:
Sales: Sales is the most useful meta-skill for life. No matter what path you choose to go down, you need to learn to sell: Sell yourself, sell your story, sell your product, sell your vision, sell your ideas. My richest friends aren't the ones with the highest IQs. They just know how to sell. They aren't afraid of being told no. They keep refining the message until they get to a yes.
Storytelling: Become exceptional at aggregating data and communicating it simply and effectively. Data in, story out. Learn to pick up on cues from listeners that signal the story is connecting (eyes lighting up, leaning in posture, etc.). Iterate accordingly.
Clear Communication: The ability to clearly communicate (with computers and humans) is going to stand out. AI is going to amplify the output capacity of the clear communicator by 100x.
Emotional Intelligence: Human interpersonal skills are arguably going to become the most important skills in a future where more and more of our lives are run through technology. The ability to create meaningful, real connection with other humans will stand out even more than it does today. Note: I plan to write a full piece on how to become more emotionally intelligent. Reply YES if you're interested in reading it!
Public Speaking: Strong, confident public speaking builds authority and improves status. It's not just about presentations in front of a large audience. It applies to normal conversations and small group settings just as much as the huge conference hall.
Taste: Good taste is hard to define, but you know it when you see it. It requires a level of forward-thinking to be in front of trends to capture value before the market squeezes out the opportunity.
Clear Thinking: Gather data, process it thoughtfully, make a decision, iterate accordingly. Avoid the "that's just the way we do things" mentality and question underlying assumptions. As the pace of change accelerates, maintaining rational, clear thinking will be more valuable than ever before.
The goal is to focus on developing a set of skills and attributes that are relevant and valuable in a range of potential futures. These Lighthouse Skills pass the test. Please consider this a dynamic list—part of embracing uncertainty is being willing to adjust, add, or edit without apprehension. No dogmas, just action.
Excerpt from "The Curiosity Chronicle" by Sahil Bloom dated 1/2/2025.
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Push-Ups After 50
MN Inspector General
Minnesota already has a large and complex government structure. Between state agencies, local governments, boards, commissions, and departments, there is no shortage of authority overseeing public programs and taxpayer dollars. Yet some lawmakers are now proposing the creation of a new Office of Inspector General (OIG), which supporters claim would improve accountability and fight fraud. While that may sound appealing on the surface, creating another powerful government office may actually create more problems than it solves.
The Art of Stillness
When I look back over the last 50 years of my life, I realize how much of it was spent moving. Moving toward goals. Moving toward success. Moving toward the next achievement that I thought would finally make me feel like I had “arrived.” Like many people of my generation, I grew up believing that hard work was the path to a meaningful life, and to be fair, hard work did open many doors for me.